Employers of merit who invest in one of their most valuable resources – their staff – will have their efforts rewarded with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council Employers Recognition Awards.

Celebrating and Promoting Employer Investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) will serve as the theme for this year’s Awards, which was officially launched today at the Savannah Hotel, Hastings.

The concept was created to encourage job attachment and workforce development; and to honour employers who invest in workforce training, with special focus on those who place emphasis on workers in the 19 to 35 age group.

In lauding the awards, Minister of Labour, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, encouraged leaders of organisations to embrace staff development, saying:?? "I strongly urge employers to join the global, regional and international efforts to redefine workforce training, thereby making it more relevant and effective."?? She added that she was certain Barbados could attain international levels of efficiency.

"I am happy to say that Barbados is also taking steps to ensure that its workforce has the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies to compete at the global level. I would like to point out here that there is no doubt in my mind that this is achievable."

In addition, the Labour Minister highlighted the fact that the International Labour Organisation was interested in working with the CARICOM Secretariat to review the CARICOM Regional Strategy for TVET, which was established in 1990 as a guideline to develop TVET systems in CARICOM states.

Dr. Byer .Suckoo also stated that her Ministry and the Ministry of Education had partnered to develop a Barbados Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy for 2011-2016, which "defines the necessary critical strategic interventions and the outputs, outcomes and indicators for Human Resource Development over the period 2011-2016."

Growth at the national level was also addressed by TVET Council Chairman, Dr. Hensley Sobers, who noted: "it is important to our national development of the TVET Council to increase the level of public and private sector employer ???buy-in’ in respect of how technical and vocational education and training can increase our young people’s applied knowledge, core competencies and positive attitudes."

To be eligible for a nomination for the Employers Recognition award, entities must be small or medium-sized organisations, in the agriculture, tourism/hospitality, construction, manufacturing, cultural industries or personal services sectors. Both self-nominations (by the employer) and third party nominations (e.g. by a training provider or consultant) are permitted.??

Nominees will be judged on: the extend and quality of workforce training and development, with a particular emphasis (but not limited to) employees aged 19 to 35; the achievements of the organisation and/or its employees, which are attributed to training undertaken; the integration of training into business planning; the innovation and excellence in training design and delivery; and the commitment to equity in training (i.e. intent of training).

Application forms may be obtained from and submitted to: the TVET Council Secretariat, #7 ???Chelwood’, 8th Avenue Belleville, St. Michael; online, at http://www.tvetcouncil.com.bb/; by email request, at office@tvetcouncil.com.bb. Forms are also available at public sector training institutions.

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